One-revolution clutch



y 1 "194- 1 c. w. GOODWIN ETAL ONE REVOLUTION CLUTCH Filed April 23, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS C. [/M oapw/M fi-IM MAET/M I ATTORNEY E -Inn! July 12, 1949.

Filed April 23, 1946 C. W. GOODWIN ETAL ONE-REVOLUTION CLUTCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ENTORS OOOW/M 1A4 finer/An A'II'TORNEY 7 July 12, 1949. c. w GOODWIN ET AL ONE -REVOLUT I ON CLUTCH Filed April 25, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inuuuu II 5 t INVENTORS 6. 01 iooow/N. H 14/. N 1977M BY I ATTORNEY Patented July 12, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT -FF:ICE

. Carl W. Goodwin,

Martin,

Plainfield, N. J and Harold-W. Malverne; N. Y., assignors to American 'Seal-Kap Corporation of Delaware, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application April 23, 1946, Serial N0.1664,3 88

2 Claims. 1

- Thisinvention relates to clutch control mechanisms of the type which when energized are operative to connect a normallystationary rotatably supported memberto a constantly rotating shaft and to automatically disconnect-them after ,the member has been rotated through one com- --pleterevo1ution and to hold them disconnected untilthe control-mechanismis again energized.

The principal object of the invention is to provide improved mechanical means for releasing an electromagnet-actuated element after it has been moved av predetermined, amount, and which will ,prevent another actuation of said element except .as required in the proper operationof the machine withwhich it-cooperates.

- Other and more limited objects of the. invention Will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawingsiorming a part thereof.

For. the purpose of illustration, the invention is shown and described herein in connection with a machine for applying hood caps to milk bottles, such as is disclosed in the patent to Carl .W. Goodwin et al. No. 2,325,163,.and it is anim- ,provement on the clutch control mechanism disclosed in the patent to Ludwig F..Boschen No.

A machine of the above type includes a magazine containingstacksof nested preformed caps which are-fed into a supply chamber from which they-are successively picked by a specialv picker mechanism-and are then advanced. along a feed chute until they reacha cap applying. station. At

the last-mentioned station the caps are successively picked ofif by the necks of advancing milk bottles which carry them to a sealing station, Where the skirts of the caps are folded around the necks of the respective milk bottles. and sealed in place, all of which operations are fully .described in the above-mentioned Goodwin et al.

; patent and form no part of the present invention.

The feed of caps in a machine of the above type is so synchronized with respect to the feed of the milk bottles that the caps are successively ;ied to thecapping station to meet theadvancing milk bottles, as they pass such station. The picker mechanism, by which the caps are picked, onevby-one fromthe supply chamber and deposited Iin the feed chute, includes a bottle-actuated switch actuating. a picker solenoid. Each time the solenoid is energized the picker mechanism should operateonce, to pick a .singlecap from the supply chamber and deposit it in the feed chute. Howevenif thebottle-actuated switch shouldbe held closed too long by a bo tle. for

example, due; to stoppage of .the bottle feed or due to the feed operating slowly, the picker mechanism may continueftooperateto pick more 1 than 'onecap from thesupplychamber.

, The present invention eliminates the foregoing v.diliiculty.andprevents more than one actuation ofthe picker mechanism for each energization of ne.,,picker solenoid regardless of the length of ,time] the ,solenoid remainsenergized. This is 10.

release. which is interposed between the solenoid accomplishedby means of a novel mechanical armature, and acne-revolution clutch orother mechanism. which is actuated thereby. to operate -types of machines wherein ,through one completecycle thepicker. 'I?his .releasable element isoperated .positively whenever, thesolenoid is energized,.and

when so operated it .actuates the picker. Immediately aftersuchoperation, however, the releasable elementis automatically released and returned to-its normal position of rest, thuspreventing further. operation of .the picker until the solenoid. has .been deenergized and then subsequently energized again as: by thenext succeed- -ingpperation of .the, bottle-actuated switch.

The invention isalso applicable to various other an element is-driven and is then released and :held :-until-.conditions-. again require its operation.

1.1 win 2Ffig. l is a fragmentary section through a portion of ah odcapappIying machineof the above men tioned type, showing in elevation a ,one

rrevc ti n clutch '...-,.mecha-n s em o y n t present invention as applied to the cap picker;

Fig. 2 is a front-elevationpf the one revolution clutch and; the ,;control mechanism therefor, as .,viewed; from the 25-2 .OfwF g position indicated, by the lines Fig. 3 is. a, central vertical; section through the a-clutch-and control mechanism, the plane of the .sectionbeing;indicated.by the line 3..3 rof Fig. 2;

s: Fig. 4 is a" horizontal sectiontaken on the line t-,4 of: Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a,view similar-toFig. 4 taken on the line: 5--5 of Fig. 2;

- Fig.- G-isa transverse section through the clutch --showing the clutch-ratchet, the planeof the section being indicated-by the line 6-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. is adetail-perspective view of the clutch Fig. 8 is a-"detail perspective view of the'trip latch;

Fig. 9. is a detail latch finger;

perspective view of the trip Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the trip lever;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the clutch lever lifted to permit engagement of the clutch but not yet released by the trip latch finger;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 11 showing the trip latch and finger just after they have lifted and released the trip lever and before they have returned to initial positions, but after the trip lever has fallen back by gravity into position to disengage the clutch after one revolution; and

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Figs. 2, 11 and 12 showing the trip latch and finger returning to initial positions.

Referring to the drawing more in detail, Fig. 1 shows a portion of a cap picker of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned Goodwin et al. patent and includes a stationary frame 5 attached to a pedestal 6 which is adapted to rest upon the floor in a convenient position with respect to the bottle filling machine.

The frame 5 supports into which the preformed a cap supply chamber 2 caps 8 are fed in a manner disclosed in the said Goodwin et al. patent. The picker mechanism for picking the caps from chamber 1 includes a cylindrical housing 9 mounted on the frame 5, and a sleeve extending outwardly through housing 9 and carrying a collar 2 which is engaged by a M to a bracket l5 on the frame of the machine. The arm I3 is attached to one end of a link H by means of which the sleeve ID and associated parts of the picker mechanism are reciprocated.

The picker mechanism is operated by a one revolution clutch which may be of any standard construction, one form of which is illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, 6 and '1. As shown therein, the other end of the link I1 is connected to a short link l8 which in turn is connected to a driving stud l9 eccentrically secured to the clutch housing 20.

The clutch housing consists of a front section 2| and a rear section 22 which are secured together by bolts 23. The rear section 22 of the clutch housing 28 encloses a clutch ratchet 24 having a plurality of ratchet teeth 25. The ratchet 24 is formed integrally with a hub 28 which is keyed to the armature shaft 21 of a motor 28. by a key 29. The clutch housing is rotatably supported upon the forward end of the hub 26, which extends into a bore in the front section 2|. A bushing 30 eliminates undue wear during operation. The front section 2| of the housing 20 has an annular groove 3| and a transversely extending slot 32 formed therein. A clutch dog 33 is slidably mounted in the slot 32 and is normally urged into engagement with the ratchet 24 by a spring 34 which is disposed within a recess 35 in the clutch dog 33 and compressed between the clutch dog and a cover plate 36 which closes the outer end of the slot 32. The clutch dog 33 is slotted as indicated at 31. One wall of the slot 31 is beveled to provide a cam surface 38, and the base of the slot is disposed slightly below the base of the groove 3|. As long as the clutch dog 33 engages the ratchet 24 which is constantly rotating with the armature shaft 21 the clutch housing 28 will be rotated in unison therewith. The clutch housing through the eccentrically mounted driving stud l9 in turn will operate any mechanism connected thereto as long as it is rotating. But as soon as the dog 33 is withdrawn from the ratchet 24 the housing 29 will stop rotating and will remain stationary until the dog 33 again engages the ratchet 24.

forked arm l3 pivoted at i The clutch dog 33 is actuated as desired by the mechanism which forms the subject matter of this application. This mechanism is all carried by a bracket 39 which is secured to the motor 28 above the clutch housing 28 by bolts 40. The bracket 39 comprises a horizontally disposed base 4| having downwardly extending sides 42 and an upwardly extending arm 43. A clutch trip lever 44 is secured at one end to a rock shaft 45 which is rotatably mounted in bearings 46 extending through the sides 42 of the bracket 39. The clutch lever 44 is disposed directly above the annular groove 3| in the clutch housing 20 and has a downwardly extending extension 41 at the free end thereof which rides in the groove 3|. The lower end of the extension 41 is curved to conform to the base of the groove 3| and normally bears thereagainst. The forward end of extension 41 at the lower edge thereof is beveled to form a cam 48 which is adapted to engage the cam surface 38 of the clutch dog 33 to withdraw the dog 33 out of engagement with the ratchet 24. To engage the clutch the clutch trip lever 44 is raised from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 11 which withdraws it from engagement with the clutch dog 33. The spring 34 is then free to slide the dog 33 toward the constantly rotating ratchet 24 into engagement with one of the teeth 25. The clutch housing is then rotated. The clutch trip lever 44 can then be released and allowed to drop back to its normal position as shown in Fig. 2. The speed of operation is such that the clutch trip lever 44 can be raised, to start the clutch housing 28 rotating, and lowered back to its normal position in the groove 3| before the clutch housing 29 and clutch dog 33 make one complete revolution, as shown in Fig. 12. The cam 48 is then in position to engage the cam surface 38 of the dog 33 and withdraw it from the ratchet 24 thus stopping rotation of the clutch housing 20 after one revolution. A brake, generally indicated by the numeral 49, which constantly engages the rear section 22 of the clutch housing 20 keeps the clutch housing from overrunning and carrying the dog 33 past the extension 41 of the clutch trip lever 44, after the dog has been withdrawn from the ratchet 24 by the cam 48.

The brake 49 comprises two brake shoes 58 having suitable brake lining 5| secured thereto. The shoes are pivotally mounted upon studs 52, extending between the sides 42 of the bracket 39, and are urged toward each other into engagement with the clutch housing 20 by a spring 53 on a bolt 54 which extends through the lower ends of the shoes 58. The pressure of the spring 53 may be adjusted by a wing nut 55 on the bolt 54.

The clutch trip lever 44 is raised through suitable mechanism to effect operation of the cap dispensing mechanism, by a solenoid 56 which is energized by a bottle-actuated switch on a capping machine (not shown). This mechanism is so constructed and arranged that the clutch housing 29 can only be rotated one revolution for each energization of the solenoid. The solenoid must be deenergized and the mechanism returned to original position before the clutch trip lever 44 can again be raised to effect operation of the clutch. The action of this mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 2, 11, 12 and 13.

A clutch trip latch 51 is rigidly secured to one end of a shaft 58 rotatably mounted in bearing 59 in the sides 42 of the bracket 39. A link 60 is rigidly secured to the other end of the shaft 58.

A pin 6|, which extends through elongated slots gamma to the free end of the link 611 and at the other end, thereofito the clutch trip latch 51, *pin lil extends, through an aperture; the lower-"end offajJink 63': which ispivotgllycqnnectfie at its upper endjto thecore 64"'of'*the"solenoid,56:1 A trip ,fi1'1ger, 65is pivotally securedi'at B ji'to, the trip'lat'ch 5T, withinarecess"61therein. Thetrip finger 65 is disposed in alignment with the clutch trip lever 44 and normally extends under a hook 68 on the free end of the trip lever, as shown in Fig. 2. A spring 69 secured at one end to an arm of the finger 65 and at the other end thereof to a pin 'H carried by the trip latch 51 normally urges the trip finger outwardly from the recess 67. This outward movement is limited by the arm in abutting a shoulder 12.

When the solenoid 56 is energized the clutch trip latch 57, and the trip finger carried thereby, are rotated from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 12; and then when the solenoid is de-energized the latch 51 will drop by gravity back to the position shown in Fig. 2. During the initial part of this movement the trip finger 65 will engage the hook 68 and raise the free end of the trip lever 44 to the position shown in Fig. 11 which releases the clutch dog 33 and allows the spring 34 to move it into engagement with ratchet 24, engaging the clutch. After a very slight further movement of the trip latch 51 beyond the position shown in Fig. 11 towards the position shown in Fig. 12, the trip finger 65 will release the trip lever 44 allowing it to drop back by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 12 before the clutch housing has made a complete revolution so that it is in position to engage and withdraw the dog 33 and disengage the clutch at the end of one complete revolution thereof. After the solenoid 56 has been de-energized the trip latch will drop by gravity back to the position shown in Fig. 2 and in so doing it will pass through the position shown in Fig. 13, when the trip finger 55 is forced back into the recess 61 by the hooked end 68 of the trip lever 44 against the tension of the spring 69. After the end of the trip lever 65 has passed the hook 68 the spring 69 will move it back beneath the hook 68, as shown in Fig. 2, where it is ready to effect engagement of the clutch when the solenoid '56 is again energized.

The shape and weight of the trip latch 51 and its connection to the shaft 58 are such that it will quickly drop back by gravity to its normal position after each actuation without the use of springs.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the clutch housing 20 will make only one revolution each time the solenoid 56 is energized, and that this will be true regardless of the length of time the solenoid remains energized. Thus, when this novel mechanical release is employed as illustrated with the picker mechanism of a capping machine, the trip lever 44 controlling the clutch mechanism will be raised to efiect engagement of the clutch each time the solenoid 56 is energized and then automatically released so that it can return to its normal position of rest in time to prevent further operation of the picker mechanism until the solenoid has been deenergized and then subsequently energized as by the next succeeding operation of the bottle-actuated switch.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein as will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.

Furthermore; the) mechanical? releasingimecha nism of the invention may; of course; be use'defor. various othenpurposes fand in various other types of machines, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

' whatg szclaimedg ss 1. In a device of the characten'descr ibed thm combination of a constantly rotating driving member, a driven member, a clutch dog slidably mounted in said driven member adapted to engage said driving member to form a driving connection between said driving member and said driven member, means urgin said clutch dog into engagement with said driving member, a pivoted trip lever normally engaging and holding said clutch dog out Of engagement with said driving member, a trip latch pivotally mounted adjacent the free end of said trip lever, a trip finger pivotally mounted upon and eccentric with said trip latch said finger having its free end extending upwardly in alignment with said trip lever, a spring holding the free end of said finger in the path of movement of the free end of said lever, and means to positively rotate said trip latch in the direction to first raise said trip finger into engagement with and lift said trip lever and upon further rotation to move said trip finger in its arc of movement out of engagement with said trip lever, whereby said trip lever is moved out of engagement with said clutch dog and immediately drops back in position to engage and withdraw said clutch dog after one revolution of said driven member said spring being arranged to allow retraction of said finger past the free end of said lever during the reverse rotation of said latch.

2. In a device of the character described the combination of a constantly rotating driving member, a driven member, a clutch through which said driven member is rotated by said driving member, means urging said clutch into driving engagement with said driving member, a bracket secured in position about said driven member, a trip lever pivoted at one end to the side of said bracket above said clutch and having a depending portion normally disposed to hold said clutch out of engagement with said driving member, a trip latch pivoted to the side of said bracket with the free end thereof adjacent the free end of said trip lever, a trip finger pivoted eccentrically to said trip latch, said finger having its free end extending upwardly in alignment with the free end of said trip lever, a spring holding the' free end of said finger in the path of movement of the free end of said lever, an upwardly extending arm on said bracket, a solenoid secured to the upper end of said arm, operative connections between said solenoid and said latch through which upon energization of said solenoid said latch is positively rotated in a direction to first bring said finger into engagement with and raise the free end of said trip lever to move said lever out of engagement with said clutch and effect engagement of said driving and driven members and upon further rotation of said latch to move said finger in its arc of movement out of engagement with said lever to allow said lever to drop back into position to engage and withdraw said clutch out of engagement with said driving member after one revolution of said driven member, said latch being weighted to drop back to initial position by gravity when said solenoid is deenergized and said spring bein arranged to allow retraction of said finger as it passes the end of said lever during the reverse rotation of said latch.

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS CARL w. GOODWIN. Number Name Date HAROLD w, MARTIN. 489,849 Crain Jan. 10, 1893 I 957,929 Bartlett May 17, 1910 REFERENCES CITED 1,215,972 Nuberg Feb. 13, 1917 1,471,350 Piaser Oct. 23, 1923 The follovwmg referenlces are of record In the 2,325,102 Boschen July 27 1943 

